--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way that American troops could…" description: "\"The only way that American troops could have stayed in Iraq is to get an agreement from the then-Iraqi government that would have protected our troops,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/hillary-clinton-51_agreement_the-only-way-that-american-troops-could_920152.jpg" --- # The only way that American troops could have stayed in… ![“The only way that American troops could have stayed in Iraq is to get an agreement from the then-Iraqi government that would have protected our troops, and the Iraqi government would not give that.” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/hillary-clinton-51_agreement_the-only-way-that-american-troops-could_920152.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/hillary-clinton-51_agreement_the-only-way-that-american-troops-could_920152.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/hillary-clinton-51_agreement_the-only-way-that-american-troops-could_920152.jpg) > “The only way that American troops could have stayed in Iraq is to get an agreement from the then-Iraqi government that would have protected our troops, and the Iraqi government would not give that.” [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She argues that without Iraqi government cooperation, US troops could not have remained safely. **In simple terms:** Troops needed local agreement for safety. Key Takeaway Seek host nation consent before military deployment. Themes politics military strategy foreign policy Mood analytical concerned Type political strategic When to use this quote - military planning - diplomatic negotiations - peacekeeping missions Key Concepts sovereignty strategic partnership Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of depending on foreign governments for troop safety? - How can alliances be structured to protect both parties? A Different Perspective Reliance on host government may limit operational flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Agreement Iraqi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement-iraqi-1418036/) [American troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-troops/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Iraq Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-agreement-1418035/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Our troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-troops/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Protected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protected/) [Stayed Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stayed-iraq-1418037/) [Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops/) [Troops Stayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops-stayed-1418038/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [George W. 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They have no respect for death, the courage of an enemy soldier, or many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/i-am-shocked-at-the-attitude-of-our-american-troops-they-have-no/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [The presence of American troops is fueling the insurgency in Iraq, as acknowledged by General Casey and numerous other experts, and is helping terrorist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-conyers/the-presence-of-american-troops-is-fueling-the-insurgency-in-iraq-as/) [John Conyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-conyers/) > [I am very optimistic about -- about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration. You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-am-very-optimistic-about-about-iraq-i-mean-this-could-be-one-of-the/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I don't agree that you need an enormous number of American troops. Saddam's army is down to one-third than it was before, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-adelman/i-don-t-agree-that-you-need-an-enormous-number-of-american-troops/) [Kenneth Adelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-adelman/) > [Benchmarks, yes, we want the Iraqi government to do the things that will show progress. But to say, American troops are going to leave,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-bailey-hutchison/benchmarks-yes-we-want-the-iraqi-government-to-do-the-things-that/) [Kay Bailey Hutchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-bailey-hutchison/) ## More by Hillary Clinton > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I think we have to take a look at corporate law. 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And I've said I will use that power if they pose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-now-have-power-under-the-dodd-frank-legislation-to-break-up-banks/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I do not think homosexuality is immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-do-not-think-homosexuality-is-immoral/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We need to have more second chance programs. I'm glad that we're ending private prisons in the federal system; I want to see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-need-to-have-more-second-chance-programs-i-m-glad-that-we-re/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [A nuclear-weapons armed Iran is not in anyone's human-rights interests. 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In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/) [M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. 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